July 18, 2026, 9:21 a.mJuly 18, 2026, 9:21 a.m
US President Donald Trump has blamed Canada for air pollution caused by wildfires and threatened consequences. The costs incurred by the USA would “necessarily” be added to the existing tariffs on Canadian imports, he said on his Truth Social platform. He will call Prime Minister Mark Carney to find out what he is doing about air pollution.
Trump sees Canada as responsible.Image: keystone
The plumes of smoke come primarily from dozens of forest fires in the Canadian province of Ontario and the northern US state of Minnesota. Impacts were felt in large parts of the northeast of the USA and Canada, including in metropolises such as Toronto, Chicago, Detroit and Washington. The view of the New York skyline, for example, was significantly impaired and there was also a smell of fire in the air.
Trump accused Canada of failing to properly maintain its forests and the undergrowth within them, which made the fires possible. According to him, the United States is “unnecessarily polluted with dirty, polluted and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous and completely unacceptable!” However, scientific findings attribute wildfires in North America primarily to climate change.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford previously said that instead of babbling and complaining, politicians should send help. “Because that’s exactly what we did for our American friends.” (hkl/sda/dpa)